Animal feed supplement

ABSTRACT

A urea-mollases animal feed supplement containing less than 30 weight percent water and at least 25 weight percent urea solids.

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,753,722 Beucler Aug. 21, 1973 ANIMALFEED SUPPLEMENT [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Harlan L. Beucler,Wayzata, Minn. UNITED STATES PATENTS 73 i m Incorporated, Minneapolis,2,748,001 5/1956 Anderson et a1. 99/6 Minn 2,910,361 10/1959 Kunz .199/6 3,248,224 4/1966 Loomis e! a]. [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1971 3,420,6721/1969 Appleman [21] App]. No.: 175,493

Primary Examiner-Norman Yudkoff Related Application Data Assistant E aniner cnnis P. Ribando [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 816,195,April 15, Attorney-William E. Anderson, James R. McBride 1969,abandoned. et a].

[52] US. Cl. 99/2 ND, 99/6, 71/28 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A23k 1/02,A231: 1/22 A urewmollases animal feed Supplement containing [58] Fieldof Search 99/2 N, 5, 6, 2, less than 30 weight percent water and atleast 25 weight 7l/26, 28-30; 260/555 R, 555 C; 106/162, percent ureaslids 18 Claims, 3 Drawing; Figures wuzz AYAVAVAV VAV AVAYAVA myAYAYAVAVAV v 2m nous'ss PAIENIEDMIFZI um sum 2 BF 2 WATER v AVAV Jexexexe AVAVAV%%X4{ AV Mm Vanna; vvvv INVENTOR #4244 A. Ewaze FM, 564,mm, -ltadi ANIMAL FEED SUPPLEMENT The present application is acontinuation-in-part of US. Pat. Ser. No. 816,195, filed Apr. 15, 1969.

This invention relates generally to animal feed supplements, and moreparticularly, it relates to stable, flowable, nonfermentable liquid feedsupplements containing molasses and urea, and to a method for themanufacture of such feed supplements.

Feed supplements for adding to the natural feed ration of ruminantanimals are well known. Such supplements commonly contain a nonproteinsource of nitrogen, and in addition, may contain vitamins, minerals,antibiotics and other desirable feed ingredients. Urea is the mostcommonly utilized source of nonprotein nitrogen in ruminant feedsupplements. When the urea is ingested by a ruminant animal it undergoeshydrolysis and releases ammonia during the digestive process. Theammonia is converted into digestable protein by microorganisms presentin the animal.

It is also well known to feed urea to ruminant animals in admixture withmolasses. The sweetness of molasses makes a mixture of urea and molassespalatable to the animal. The molasses-urea mixture may be fed directlyto the animal or may be mixed with the animals grain or roughage ration.

Aqueous urea solutions have well-defined crystallization temperatures.The temperature at which molassesurea mixtures change from fluid tosolid is not so well defined, particularly if this transitiontemperature is a low temperature at which the molasses is viscous. Thetransition temperature of molasses-urea mixtures is commonly referred toby various names, such as crystallization temperature, fudge point" orfreezing point." The transition of a molasses-urea mixture from a fluidstate to an apparent solid state is not believed to be entirely acrystallization mechanism. Consequently, the transition temperaturewherein the described. molasses-urea mixtures change from a fluidstateto an apparent solid state will be referred to herein as theongealing temperature. A molasses-urea mixture is considered to be in asolid state" when .it is no longer flowable. As used herein, the termflowable refers to the capability of a particular molasses-urea mixtureto be pumped using ordinary equipment. The flowability of a particularmolasses-urea mixture is directly proportional to the temperature of themixture, that is, the higher the temperature the more flowable and lessviscous the mixture becomes.

Known molasses-urea liquid feed supplements generally contain less thanabout 25 percent by weight urea solids, and between about 30 and about40 percent by weight water. Such compositions are conventionallyprepared by mixing molasses with an aqueous urea solution containing 50percent urea, a standard item of commerce. It is not consideredpractical to prepare molasses-urea feed supplements by dissolving solidurea in molasses since urea has a negative heat of solution, which wouldrequire the addition of excessive quantities of heat during dissolvingof the urea in the molasses. g

Molasses-urea feed supplements are usually prepared from high Brixmolasses, e.g., molasses having a Brix of 85 or higher, or fromstandardized molasses, which has a Brix of 79.5. FIG. 1 is a graph ofBrix versus average moisture of cane molasses. FIG. 1 represents theaveraging of the moisture content of many molasses samples, anddeviations in the actual moisture control of a given molasses samplefrom that of FIG. 1 can be expected. However, for most molasses samples,FIG. 1 should be accurate to within three percent. If the moisturecontent of molasses exceeds that of standardized molasses, which fromFIG. I is about 26.5 percent, the molasses is susceptible tofermentation upon storage, particularly at elevated temperatures, e.g.,above F. Accordingly, conventional molasses-urea feed supplementscontaining 30 to 45 percent water are susceptible to fermentation.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide an improved molasses-urea feed supplement containing increasedconcentrations of urea, and a convenient method of manufacturing suchcompositions. It is another object of the present invention to provide amolasses-urea feed supplement having an increased urea concentration anda relatively low water concentration. It is a further object of thepresent invention to provide a stable, flowable molasses-urea feedsupplement having a sufficiently low water concentration that it isessentially nonfermentable. An additional object is to provide a methodfor the manufacture of a molasses-urea feed supplement which provides anonfermentable, flowable product having high urea concentrations and lowmoisture concentrations.

These and other objects of the invention will become more clear from acareful reading of the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a graph depicting molasses Brix versus average percentmoisture present in molasses;

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating four constant congealing temperaturecurves plotted as a function of weight per-' cent water in themolasses-urea feed supplement versus the effective urea concentration,as herein defined, and the ratio of percent urea to percent water; and

FIG.. 3 is a graph on triangular coordinates defining the molasses-ureamoisture compositions of the present invention. I l

Generally, the invention is directed to an animal feed supplement whichincludes a mixture of molasses (having a Brix in excess of 72) and anaqueous urea solution or anhydrous urea. The molasses-urea feedsupplement is stable, and substantially nonfermentable under normalconditions. The feed supplement contains at least about 25 percent andpreferably at least about 30 percent by weight urea solids, and not morethan 30 percent by weight water. Depending upon the particularcongealing temperature desired, the molasses-urea feed supplement maycontain as little as 10 percent by weight water. The urea to water ratioof the molassesurea feed supplement is at least 0.8 or above and ispreferably greater than about 1.0. y

The molasses-urea feed supplement is prepared by mixing an aqueous ureasolution or anhydrous urea with molasses having a Brix of at least about72. The urea is heated sufficiently that it is fluid when mixed with themolasses. The mixture is blended and agitated sufficiently to insureintimate mixing.

Several significant advantages, unattainable with prior molasses-ureafeed supplements, are realized through the molasses-urea feed supplementdescribed herein. The feed supplement contains an amount of urea whichexceeds the maximum urea content which could be obtained heretofore atequal molasses solids concentrations. The feed supplement is therefore amore concentrated source of food energy. The feed supplement is stableand flowable at lower temperatures that is either the molasses or theurea solution used to form the mixture. For example, the molassesureamixture will have a congealing temperature that is lower than thecrystallization temperature of the urea solution employed in thepreparation of the mixture, and will have a lower viscosity than theviscosity of the molasses used in preparation of the mixture.

The feed supplement of the invention is nonfermentable under normallyencountered storage conditions without the addition to the feedsupplement of preservatives, such as phosphoric acid or phosphates.While not wishing to be bound by any theory it is believed that thenon-fermentable characteristics of the feed supplement are due to thecombination of novel features of the invention. These novel featuresinclude providing a feed supplement with a low moisture of less thanabout 30 percent, providing urea at a level of at least about 25 percentand providing a urea to moisture ratio of 0.8 or above. If a feedsupplement is prepared which lacks the above indicated novel features,the feed supplement is not resistant to fermentation and fermentationoccurs after a relatively short period at normally encountered storageconditions.

Another advantage of the molasses-urea feed supplement is that thevolume required for storage of the mixture of the molasses and the ureasolution is less than the volume required for storage of the molassesand a dilute urea solution separately. Surprisingly, the molasses-ureafeed supplement has a higher fluidity (lower viscosity) than does a ureasolution or molasses dispersion having an equivalent moisture.

It is also a surprising and unexpected result that the congealingtemperature of the molasses-urea feed supplement is less than thecrystallization temperature of a urea solution having an effective ureaconcentration equivalent to that of the feed supplement. As used hereinthe term effective urea concentration means the concentration of urea inthe feed supplement divided by the sum of the water and ureaconcentrations in the feed supplement. For example, a feed supplementcontaining 30 percent urea and 22 percent total moisture would have aneffective urea concentration of 30 divided by 22 plus 30 or about 58percent. A 58 weight percent aqueous urea solution has a crystallizationtemperature of about 90 F. In a particular example of the described feedsupplement containing 30 percent urea solids, 22 percent moisture and 48percent molasses solids, i.e., a feed supplement having an effectiveurea concentration of 58 percent, the congealing temperature is about 50F. The molasses-urea feed supplement is also advantageous in that itoffers a convenient system for handling concentrated urea solutions anda high Brix molasses in the form ofa flowable non-fermentablecomposition.

A further advantage of the feed supplement is that the feed supplementmay be provided having any desired congealing temperature below about160 F and down to less than about l F. It is preferred to provide feedsupplements having a congealing tempeture below the lowest normallyencountered ambient temperature of the geographic area where the feedsupplement is to be utilized. Such normally encountered ambienttemperatures may range from about 60 F to about 105 F in the summer andfrom about l0 F to about 80 F in the winter for areas within the UnitedStates. By providing the feed supplement with a congealing temperaturebelow the ambient temperature, the feed supplement remains easilyhandleable and flowable at the ambient temperature and may be pumped. Itis particularly preferred to provide feed supplements with congealingtemperatures of F or less so as to provide a flowable feed supplement atthe ambient temperature conditions of most geographic areas during mostseasons. Flowable feed supplements with congealing temperatures higherthan ambient temperature may also be used if the feed supplement is keptheated or if the feed supplement is heated. It is preferred, however,that the feed supplement be provided with a congealing temperature belowabout 105 F under most conditions of use.

Any convenient form of molasses may be employed in the preparation ofthe feed supplement. It is contemplated that in most instances canemolasses will be utilized, but corn or hydro] molasses, beet molasses,citrus molasses, wood molasses, sorghum molasses are equally useful andmay be substituted for all or part of the cane molasses. It is alsocontemplated to substitute corn steepwater concentrate or fish solublesfor all or part of the molasses.

Cane molasses is generally available as high Brix molasses, e.g., a Brixof between about 84 and 92, and as standardized molasses which has aBrix of 79.5. In some instances the molasses may have a lower Brix, forexample between 72 and 75, but at these lower Brix values the molassesis susceptible to fermentation. High Brix molasses is quite viscous anddifficult to handle and pump, particularly at temperatures below aboutF. Standardized molasses, prepared by the addition of water to high Brixmolasses is less viscous and can be handled and pumped at temperaturesas low as 40 F. The addition of further amounts of water to lower theBrix to below 79.5 permits handling of the molasses at low temperatures.However, as indicated at such lower Brix values the molasses issusceptible to fermentation upon exposure to elevated temperatures. Themolasses-urea feed supplement of the present invention is notsubstantially susceptible to fermentation at levels of moisture of lessthan about 30 percent. However, to insure freedom from fermentation forextended periods of storage at elevated temperatures, e.g., above F, itis preferred that the moisture be no greater than that of 79.5 Brixmolasses, which, as previously indicated, is about 26.5 percentmoisture.

Generally, inorder to provide a multiple purpose feed supplement,capable of storage during the summer months, the water content of thesupplement should not exceed the moisture content of standardizedmolasses, e.g., should not exceed about 25 to 27 percent by weight waterto avoid fermentation problems at temperatures up to about l25 F.Notwithstanding the desirability of providing a water content belowabout 25 to 27 percent, known and available molasses-urea feedsupplements contain between 30 and 45 percent water, the high watercontent being necessary to provide a high urea content in the feedsupplement when urea is added in the form of the commonly available 50percent urea solution.

Molasses-urea feed supplements as described herein are not susceptibleto fermentation even when the molasses raw material has a Brix as low asabout 72. Nonfermentable feed supplements containing as much as about 60percent by weight urea solids and less than about percent by weightwater may readily be prepared from such low Brix molasses. However, formost purposes high Brix molasses, e.g., molasses having a Brix of about85 or higher is used as the raw material.

In the preparation of the described molasses-urea feed supplement it ispreferred to use urea solutions which have as high a level of urea as isreadily available. Particularly preferred is the use of substantiallypure urea containing substantially no water present, although ureasolutions containing as little as 60 percent by weight urea may also beemployed depending upon the Brix of the molasses and the desiredcongealing temperature of the feed supplement. In practice the use ofaqueous urea solutions containing about 85 percent by. weight ureasolids have been found to be convenient.

It is important that the urea mixed with the molasses is sufficientlyheated so that it is liquid. The addition of liquid urea provides forbetter admixture with the molasses. Further, since solid urea has anegative heat of solution, it is advisable to heat such ureasufficiently to cause the urea to be in solution. Otherwise it isnecessary to heat the molasses, which can cause carmelization. Moltenanhydrous urea has a melting point of about 272 F, and when pure orsubstantially pure urea is utilized as the raw material, the urea shouldbe at a temperature above 272 F at the time of addition to the molasses,e.g., about 275 F. Similarly, when aqueous urea solutions are employedas a raw material, the temperature of the urea solution should bemaintained above the crystallization temperature for such solutions. Forexample an aqueous 85 percent urea solution has a crystallizationtemperature of 198 F and an aqueous 75 percent urea solution has acrystallization temperature of 163 F. The urea is provided in the feedsupplement at a level of at least about percent by weight and preferablyat a level of at least about percent by weight. However, for reasons ofpalatability and nutrition, the urea should not constitute more thanabout 60 percent of the feed supplement.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating four constant congealing temperaturecurves for molasses-urea feed supplements plotted as a function of thetotal water content of the molasses-urea feed supplement, versus theeffective urea concentration and also the urea to water ratio. From thisgraph it is possible to determine the maximum urea to water ratio at agiven total water concentration in orderto attain a feed supplementhaving a particular congealing temperature. For example, if an 86 Brixmolasses is chosen as the starting material for preparing the feedsupplement, it is determined by means of FIG. 1 that the average watercontent of the molasses is about 20 percent. If a feed supplement havinga congealing temperature of 50 F and a total moisture level of 20percent is desired, the level of urea to be provided can be determinedby means of FIG. 2. From FIG. 2 at 20 percent total water, it is seenthat a urea to water ratio of about 1.4 should be used. This correspondsto an effective urea concentration of about 58 percent. The level ofurea and water which need to be added can then be readily determined bysimultaneous equations or by trial and error. For the example given, letx represent the level of urea to be added in pounds and y the level ofwater in pounds. Then, on the basis of 100 pounds of 86 Brix molassesthe equations would be as follows:

When the equations are solved for x and y it is learned that 43.1 poundsof urea and 10.8 pounds of water, i.e., 53.9 pounds of an 80 percent byweight urea solution, need to be added to the 86 Brix milasses. Theresultant molasses-urea feed concentrate will have a congealingtemperature of F, a urea to water ratio of 1.4 and a total moisture of20 percent by weight. If a lower congealing temperature is desired, alower ratio of urea to moisture would be used. Other constant congealingtemperature curves may be interpolated or plotted for FIG. 2 to furtherincrease the utility of FIG. 2 in providing feed supplements withparticular characteristics. When a urea solution is used to prepare thefeed supplement of the present invention, it is, of course, necessary toaccount for the water in the urea solution in arriving at a particularcomposition of the final feed supplement.

As shown on the triangular plot of FIG. 3, the feed supplement of theinvention consists essentially of urea, water and molasses solids. Thefeed supplement compositions of the invention are those contained withinthe parallelogram defined by points A, B, C, D. Such compositionscontain 25 percent to percent of urea, 10 percent to 30 percent waterand 10 percent to percent molasses solids, all percentages by weight.Also shown in FIG. 3 are curves representing constant congealingtemperature compositions for congealing temperatures of 60 F, F, F, Fand F. Other constant congealing temperature curves can be interpolatedor plotted. Preferred feed supplement compositions are those which havea congealing temperature of less than 105F. Such preferred compositionsare within the area defined by three sides of the parallelogram (AE, ADand DF) and the constant congealing temperature curve for 105 F (EF).The points defining this area are A, E, F, D. Particularly preferredfeed supplement compositions are those having a congealing temperatureof less than about 60F. Such compositions fall within the area of FIG. 3defined by the lines between points A, G, H. D.

The following examples illustrate various feed supplement mixturesprepared by combining molten urea and urea solutions having variouswater levels with high Brix molasses and with standardized molasses. Inall instances, percentages are percent by weight.

EXAMPLE I Pure urea, initially at a temperature of 275 F, was addedgradually to molasses having a Brix of 86, initially at a temperature of72 F. The molasses was agitated during addition of the molten urea andthe resultant mixture was cooled to determine the congealingtemperature. Various mixtures were prepared in the above manner toprovide the information for Table 1 below.

Further molasses-urea feed supplements were prepared by the method ofExample I except that an 85 percent urea solution was added to molasseshaving a Brix of 86. The urea solution was maintained at a temperatureof 200 F and the molasses was initially at a temperature of 72 F duringthe addition of the urea. Various proportions of urea and molasses wereprepared to provide the information for Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Congealing Urea to temp. urea- Molasses moisture molasses Ureain solids Moisture ratio mixture mixture in in mixture mixture 1.37 lessthan F 25.5 55.9 18.6 1.88 8F 34.0 47.9 19.1 2.41 104F 42.5 39.9 17.6

EXAMPLE Ill The method of Example 1 was used to prepare additional feedsupplement mixtures, with the exception that an 85 percent urea solutionwas added to standardized molasses having a Brix of 79.5. The ureasolution was maintained at a temperature of 200 F during the addition ofthe urea. Various samples were prepared and the information from eachsample is recorded below in Table 3.

The method of Example I was used to prepare additional feed supplementmixtures, with the exception that a 75 percent urea solution andmolasses having a Brix of 79.5 was used. The urea solution wasmaintained at a temperature of 165 F and the molasses was initially at atemperature of 72 F during the addition of the urea. Sufficient mixtureswere prepared to provide the information set forth below in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Congealing Total Urea to Temp. Molasses k moisture of UreaSolids water in ratio mixture in in mixture mixture mixture 1.10 lessthan 10F 26.2 47.8 26.0 1.15 48F 30.0 44.0 26.0 1.30 62F 33.7 40.4 25.81.45 76F 37.5 36.7 25.8 1.60 88F 41.2 33.1 25.7 1.90 110F 48.7 25.7 25.62.22 130F 56.2 18.3 25.3

EXAMPLE V The method of Example 1 was used to produce additional feedsupplement mixtures in accordance with the invention, except that a ureasolution containing 70 percent urea and molasses having a Brix of 79.5was used. The urea solution was maintained at a temperature of 140 F andthe molasses was initially at a temperature of 72 F during the additionof the urea. Sufficient mixtures were prepared to provide the data setforth below in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Total Urea to Congealing Molasses moisture temp. Urea solidswater ratio of mixture in in in mixture mixture mixture .88 20F 24.547.7 27.8 1.00 48F 28.0 44.0 28.0 1.00 48F 28.0 44.0 28.0 1.12 50 31.540.4 28.1 1.24 66F 35.0 36.7 28.3 1.14 F 38.0 33.0 29.0 1.47 88F 42.029.4 28.6 1.58 92F 45.5 25.7 28.8 1.80 104F 52.5 18.4 29.1

A portion of each of the mixtures of the foregoing examples was storedat ambient temperatures for a period of 12 months. A further portion ofeach of the mixtures was stored at an elevated temperature of 98 F for aperiod of6 months. None of the examples stored at either temperatureshowed noticeable fermentation.

It is usually desirable to increase the moisture level of the feedsupplement of the invention just prior to feeding to provide a moreacceptable flavor to the animal. While the feed supplement of theinvention consists essentially of urea, molasses, solids and water,additional materials may be added to the feed supplement to provideparticular characteristics. Materials such as vitamins, minerals,antibiotics or other medicinal ingredients may be added to the feedsupplement mixture.

The feed supplement of the present invention is a significant advance inthe art of feed supplement materials for ruminant animals. A given levelof urea and molasses can be combined into a feed supplement inaccordance with the present invention and stored in a reduced volume.The feed supplement of the invention can be stored without congealing atlower temperatures than either the urea or the molasses itself. A fluidor flowable feed supplement material at ambient temperatures can beproduced if desired. The feed supplement mixtures are stable andresistant to fermentation and provide increased stability for other feedsupplement materials combined therewith.

What is claimed is:

l. A stable, substantially non-fermentable animal feed supplementcomprising an aqueous mixture of molasses and urea, said mixturecontaining from about 10 percent to less than about 30 percent by weightwater and at least about 25 percent by weight urea, said molasses priorto admixture having a Brix of at least about 72 and the ratio of urea towater in said mixtures being greater than 0.8.

2. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ratio ofurea to water in said mixture is greater than about 1.0.

3. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mixturecontains less than about 26.5 percent by weight water.

4. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said urea isprovided from a urea source selected from urea solutions which containat least about 60 percent urea and pure urea.

5. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said feedsupplement has a congealing temperature of less than about 105 F.

6. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said feedsupplement has a congealing temperature of less than about 60 F andwherein said feed supplement is pumpable at ambient temperatures.

7. A feed supplement in accordance with claiin 1 wherein said urea ispresent at a level of at least about 30 percent by weight urea.

8. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said urea isprovided by an aqueous urea solution having at least about 70 percenturea and said molasses is about 86 Brix, said urea being present at alevel of about 36 percent by weight in said feed supplement and saidratio of urea to water in said feed supplement is about 1.5.

9. A method for preparing a stable, substantially non fermentable animalfeed supplement, comprising providing a urea source selected fromaqueous urea solutions having at least about 60 percent urea or pureurea in a fluid condition, providing molasses having a Brix of at leastabout 72, and blending said urea source and said molasses to provide afeed supplement consisting essentially of an aqueous mixture of molassesand urea, controlling the moisture of said urea source and said molassesto provide from about percent to less than 30 percent moisture in saidfeed supplement and said urea source being provided at a levelsufficient to establish at least about 25 percent urea in said feedsupplement and a ratio of urea to water in said feed supplement of atleast 0.8.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said ratio of urea towater is at least about 1.0.

l l. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the moisture of saidfeed supplement is less than about 26.5

percent.

12. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said urea source is aurea solution having at least about percent urea.

13. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said feed supplement hasa congealing temperature of less than about F.

14. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said feed supplement hasa congealing temperature of less than about 60 F and said feedsupplement is pumpable at ambient temperatures.

15. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said urea source ispresent at a level sufficient to provide at least about 30 percent ureain said feed supplement.

16. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidcomposition is within the area defined by the points A, E, F and D ofFIG. 3.

17. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 which has a compositionwithin the area defined by points A, G, H and D of FIG. 3.

18. A composition of matter suitable as a feed supplement for ruminantsconsisting of at least about 25 percent by weight of urea, less than 30percent by weight of water, and 39.9 percent by weight of molasses, saidmolasses having a Brix in excess of 72.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patnt 1 752,772Dated August 21. 1973 Inventor(s) Harlan L. Beucler It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Abstract, line 1 "mollases" should read molasses Column 7, line14, Table 2, "22F should be 82F Column 8, line 8, Table 5, the linebeginning "1.00" is shown twice. I

Column 8, line 9., "50" should be 50F Signed and sealed. this 27th dayof November 1973.

[SEAL] Attest;

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER v Attesting Officer I ActingCommissioner of Patents FORM Po-1qso (10-59)

2. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ratio ofurea to water in said mixture is greater than about 1.0.
 3. A feedsupplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mixture contains lessthan about 26.5 percent by weight water.
 4. A feed supplement inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said urea is provided from a urea sourceselected from urea solutions which contain at least about 60 percenturea and pure urea.
 5. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1wherein said feed supplement has a congealing temperature of less thanabout 105* F.
 6. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid feed supplement has a congealing temperature of less than about 60*F and wherein said feed supplement is pumpable at ambient temperatures.7. A feed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said urea ispresent at a level of at least about 30 percent by weight urea.
 8. Afeed supplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said urea is providedby an aqueous urea solution having at least about 70 percent urea andsaid molasses is about 86 Brix, said urea being present at a level ofabout 36 percent by weight in said feed supplement and said ratio ofurea to water in said feed supplement is about 1.5.
 9. A method forpreparing a stable, substantially non-fermentable animal feedsupplement, comprising providing a urea source selected from aqueousurea solutions having at least about 60 percent urea or pure urea in afluid condition, providing molasses having a Brix of at least about 72,and blending said urea source and said molasses to provide a feedsupplement consisting essentially of an aqueous mixture of molasses andurea, controlling the moisture of said urea source and said molasses toprovide from about 10 percent to less than 30 percent moisture in saidfeed supplement and said urea source being provided at a levelsufficient to establish at least about 25 percent urea in said feedsupplement and a ratio of urea to water in said feed supplement of atleast 0.8.
 10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said ratio ofurea to water is at least about 1.0.
 11. A method in accordance withclaim 9 wherein the moisture of said feed supplement is less than about26.5 percent.
 12. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said ureasource is a urea solution having at least about 70 percent urea.
 13. Amethod in accordance with claim 9 wherein said feed supplement has acongealing temperature of less than about 105* F.
 14. A method inaccordance with claim 9 wherein said feed supplement has a congealingtemperature of less than about 60* F and said feed supplement ispumpable at ambient temperatures.
 15. A method in accordance with claim9 wherein said urea source is present at a level sufficient to provideat least about 30 percent urea in said feed supplement.
 16. A feedsupplement in accordance with claim 1 wherein saId composition is withinthe area defined by the points A, E, F and D of FIG.
 3. 17. A feedsupplement in accordance with claim 1 which has a composition within thearea defined by points A, G, H and D of FIG.
 3. 18. A composition ofmatter suitable as a feed supplement for ruminants consisting of atleast about 25 percent by weight of urea, less than 30 percent by weightof water, and 39.9 percent by weight of molasses, said molasses having aBrix in excess of 72.